Rumor Patrol: Armie Hammer Could Play Batman in ‘Justice League’

The Dark Knight Rises marked the end of the cinematic Batman we’ve known and loved for years, and with Christopher Nolan hammering down any rumors of a potential return to the Batman franchise or involvement with Justice League, it’s time for someone else to step into the shadows.

Just over a month ago, rumors rolled in with talk of Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment moving ahead with Justice League as their next tentpole DC film after next year’s Man of Steel and that it would serve as the platform to reboot and reintroduce Batman, as opposed to launching another solo film first (for Bats and the rest of the Justice League roster).

MovieHole has the scoop which claims Warner Bros. is very interested (again) in Armie Hammer putting on the cape and cowl as The Dark Knight in Justice League, their own superhero team-up that’ll compete with Marvel Studios’ The Avengers, potentially in the same year as The Avengers 2 (2015).

Hammer of course, was tapped to play Batman in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal back in 2007 before the project was scrapped due to a multiple unforeseen circumstances, notably the writer’s guild strike and the failure to acquire tax credits they needed for financing from the Australian government. That and a certain amount of uncertainty of introducing another live-action Batman alongside Nolan’s at-the-time-upcoming The Dark Knight with a cast of unknowns kept the project buried.

Many of JL:M’s stars went on to enjoy rather busy careers however, including Jay Baruchel, Common and Teresa Palmer, who were supposed to play the villain, John Stewart/Green Lantern and Talia Al Ghul, respectively. Armie Hammer of course, the Bruce Wayne of the canceled project, went on to earn the attention of moviegoers and critics with his roles in The Social Network where he played two characters (twins) and Prince “Charming” Alcott in Mirror Mirror.

Now, Hammer is working on his biggest role yet as the title character opposite Johnny Depp’s Tonto in The Lone Ranger for Disney and that may help him land the major role that he almost already played for Warner Bros. That’s according to “a very good source” of MovieHole who specify that the interest in the 26 year-old Hammer is strictly for the Justice League film currently being written by Will Beall, meaning the WB could still run a separate Batman universe or continue the Nolan one with Joseph Gordon-Levitt down the road. Undoubtedly, the release of the The Lone Ranger trailer last week provided the origins for this apparent interest by Warner Bros./rumor.

I’m Batman!

Could Hammer pull off playing Bruce Wayne opposite Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent/Superman or would he be better suited in another role (i.e. The Flash)? Is it even possible that Ryan Reynolds could return as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern or will Warner Bros. pretend that didn’t happen and truly start fresh with Man of Steel serving as a potential start to a shared cinematic universe (see: Wonder Woman cameo rumor)?